Preview — The Bride Test
by Helen Hoang

The Bride Test

From the critically acclaimed author of The Kiss Quotient comes a romantic novel about love that crosses international borders and all boundaries of the heart...

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions — like grief. And love. He thinks he's defectiFrom the critically acclaimed author of The Kiss Quotient comes a romantic novel about love that crosses international borders and all boundaries of the heart...

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions — like grief. And love. He thinks he's defective. His family knows better— that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can't turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn't go as planned. Esme's lessons in love seem to be working... but only on herself. She's hopelessly smitten with a man who's convinced he can never return her affection.

With Esme's time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he's been wrong all along. And there's more than one way to love....more

Win a Copy of This Book

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contenEnter to Win 1 of 8 copies of The Bride Test by Helen Hoang!

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.

With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love....more

Community Reviews

He was ignoring everyone, including her, at this expensive wedding. So he could read a novel about alien demon things.

My soulmate!

I am going to share this again closer to publication, but after my experience with The Kiss Quotient and how it quite literally changed my life, I just couldn't wait to read this. And I gave a lot of thought to my rating. Five stars for a cute smutty romance? Really? But these books are very special to me and I think, deep down, they are actually a lot more than cut

He was ignoring everyone, including her, at this expensive wedding. So he could read a novel about alien demon things.

My soulmate!

I am going to share this again closer to publication, but after my experience with The Kiss Quotient and how it quite literally changed my life, I just couldn't wait to read this. And I gave a lot of thought to my rating. Five stars for a cute smutty romance? Really? But these books are very special to me and I think, deep down, they are actually a lot more than cute smutty romances.

The Bride Test is about Khai, Michael's cousin in The Kiss Quotient. He is Vietnamese-American, autistic, and believes himself to be incapable of the emotions that matter. Like grief. Or love. His overbearing but lovable mother decides to take action and find him a wife from Việt Nam.

That's where Esme Tran comes in. After getting pregnant young, she now desperately tries to support her daughter in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City. She's mixed race, and has long wanted to go to America to find her father. When Cô Nga offers to pay for her visa and trip to California in exchange for her trying to seduce Khai, she takes the opportunity.

Khai and Esme are fully-fleshed out and adorable characters. Khai is geeky and obsessive, but as we would expect from an ownvoices author, it does not come across in a faux-quirky way. His struggles and passion for his few interests are so genuine. Quân is also a real source of hilarity in this book; the dynamic between him and Khai makes for some very entertaining parts.

On the surface, Hoang has returned once again to sexual and romantic relationships where one character is autistic. Khai is not a reincarnation of Stella from The Kiss Quotient but is very much his own person, and ASD affects him in unique ways. Esme must respect his boundaries, just as falling for her is a learning experience for him. The way these books bring sexiness to consent and mutual respect is wonderful. And HOT.

But I said "on the surface" because there's more to this story as well. Trust me when I say the author's note is an absolute must-read. The Bride Test is a sweet, cute, sexy and funny romance, but it is also the story of an uneducated Vietnamese immigrant coming to the United States. This aspect is loosely-based on Hoang's mother's experiences, and it is the tale of an incredibly brave woman defying the odds and clawing her way up from almost nothing.

Helen Hoang is making important waves, one sweet sexy romance novel at a time.

The Bride Test is the most anticipated sophomore novel from Helen Hoang, AKA: the goddess who we do not deserve and who gifted us The Kiss Quotient! And this book is following a couple of characters who we originally met in that debut! I didn’t love this installment as much as I did The Kiss Quotient, but I still think that this book is a treasure and that Helen Hoang is aARC provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.

“It felt too big. At the same time, it didn’t feel like enough.”

The Bride Test is the most anticipated sophomore novel from Helen Hoang, AKA: the goddess who we do not deserve and who gifted us The Kiss Quotient! And this book is following a couple of characters who we originally met in that debut! I didn’t love this installment as much as I did The Kiss Quotient, but I still think that this book is a treasure and that Helen Hoang is a gift to the world.

And like The Kiss Quotient, this is an ownvoices novel, Helen is Vietnamese and is Autistic. And one of my favorite things about this book is seeing the difference of Stella, from The Kiss Quotient, and the main character of this book’s Autism. I think people just like to group marginalized people together and act like their experiences are all the same, and this author does such a wonderful job at truly showing the Autism spectrum and how vast it truly is. This book has a completely different Autistic main character, because everyone’s experiences are different, and I truly loved it more than I have words to express in this review.

➽ Khai Vietnamese, Autistic, Michael's cousin from The Kiss Quotient, living in California, and completely happy being on his own, especially after losing someone very close to him when he was younger. Even though that loss has made him think that he is incapable of love.

➽ Esme - Biracial (Vietnamese and white), living in Vietnam as a cleaning woman, when Khai’s mom travels there to try to see if she can find a woman who would be compatible with her son. And Esme accepts because she is a single mom, living in poverty with her own mother and grandmother, and she thinks this is an opportunity to give them and herself a better life. Khai’s mother promises her a summer in California, where she can see if she can make Khai fall in love with her and marry her, but if not, she will return back to her family.

But with this set up, the power imbalance always is at the forefront. I always was questioning Esme and her feelings, because she has so much at stake. Also, Esme doesn’t tell Khai about her daughter for far too long, and that also felt extremely bad to me. And it’s always hard for me to root for a romance that is founded on a power imbalance and then also have it harboring such a big secret, especially after the two individuals are choosing to have sex. Now, I will say that the author does such an amazing job at putting consent at the forefront of this story constantly, yet I still could never find my footing on this shaking ground. And because of this, I can’t give this more than four stars.

I will say that, besides always putting consent at the forefront, this story has a lot of other amazing elements. Like, just seeing Esme in a foreign country, doing whatever it takes to make a better life for her loved ones, and seeing her getting the education of her dreams, I am soft and so happy. My favorite part of this book was easily the acknowledgements, where Helen really shares about her personal life and her mother’s personal experience being an immigrant and coming to American in search of a better life. I shed so many tears at how beautiful and powerful these final words were, and it truly was the cherry on an already amazing ice cream sundae.

Also, much like The Kiss Quotient, the family in this book is everything. Quan plays such a major roll in this story, and honestly was the shining light for me. And I am counting the days until we get his book next!

But this is a story about loss and love, yet also healing and becoming the person you want to be, no matter the circumstances. We get to see both Khai and Esme dealing with their own traumas, and healing separately, but we also get to see them building something really beautiful together; a future where they can be accepted and happy. And seeing them realize they were worthy of that love and acceptance all along? So damn beautiful.

“My heart works in a different way, but it’s yours.”

Overall, I just love being in Helen Hoang’s world. From the important elements and themes, to the beautiful diversity and inclusion, to some of the steamiest and most romantic scenes ever, these books are just really easy to fall in love with. I hope she never stops writing, and I hope Berkley signs her for five more books after these five, because she is a gift to the world.

A romance with characters that express so much more than just physical attraction, but also grasps the heart of the reader with the tender emotions that are portrayed...

Once this beauty landed in my hands, I knew that there was no backing down of putting everything to the side and start it. That's what Helen Hoang does to you once you get a small glimpse of her writing. I remember last year how hesitant I was about reading The Kiss Quotient because of all the hype and love it kept getting. WheA romance with characters that express so much more than just physical attraction, but also grasps the heart of the reader with the tender emotions that are portrayed...

Once this beauty landed in my hands, I knew that there was no backing down of putting everything to the side and start it. That's what Helen Hoang does to you once you get a small glimpse of her writing. I remember last year how hesitant I was about reading The Kiss Quotient because of all the hype and love it kept getting. When it comes down to novels that are hyped too much, I like to back away from them and maybe read them in a month or so once the hype calms down. Thank the heavens I didn't, because I would have never encountered upon Helen's marvelous and unique way of putting so many in depth emotions to the page. I would have never gotten to understand, that even individuals whom may be different in some way, socially, physically, emotionally... anyway. There is still a fighting chance of finding love, cherishing that love, and grasping it for dear life. That's what Khai has demonstrated in this compelling romance novel that will have you running for more tissues.

In my reviews, I really don't like to talk about the story plot of the characters. I like to focus on the way the story plot comes to be and how it changes my mind and mood. Helen does so by implying this new character, in which we came across in The Kiss Quotient during Stella's and Michael's story. Khai. That intriguing and mysterious autistic young man, that had picked my interest from that small glimpse we got of him. His way of living is structured, has a routine that he follows every single day and should not be tempered with. From the point of view of his family such as his mother, brother Quan (whom shall be brought up in a moment), and his sister Vy (whom shall also be brought up in a moment...) he is a simple man who enjoys his lifestyle as an accountant, takes his shoes off once he arrives to his two bedroom home and enjoys the feeling of his old carpet against his feet. It's the little things that one would not be able to understand why they are so important in which in that unique side of him, his extended family never understands. Emotions is something that Helen touches a lot when it comes to Khai. He does not come to a realization that, even though he states he cannot comprehend emotions in general; anger, happiness, sadness, disappointment, and love—he truly is a strong human being whom expresses all those feelings.

That's when Mỹ, aka Esmeralda, aka Esme comes along. A twenty-three year old young lady from Việt Nam whose dreams had to take a pause because life came in the way. Supporting her mother, grandmother, a special someone who shall not be named for the sake of spoilers, is what Mỹ had been doing before she encountered upon Khai's mother whom was looking for a bride for him. She is instantly drawn to Mỹ and offers for her to come to the states for the summer and try to seduce her son, Khai. Mỹ of course has to think about it because she has to support her family. But after a very thorough decision, she decides to accept the offer and goes to the states to try and make Khai fall in love with her.

At first, meeting Esme with the circumstances he was put in by his mother, is not something Khai is pleased with. She moves in with her, but he is also instantly drawn to her natural beauty. Her eyes captivate him in the best of ways, making his body react in ways that have never acted before. The attraction is there and it's beautiful to read that a gentleman such as Khai, whom does not believe he can ever love anyone, expresses these feelings towards Esme;

"Strange, incomprehensible, beautiful woman. She said the funniest things and smiled all the time. His fingers itched to touch that smile, and he sipped away out of self-preservation..."

Weeks pass and Esme and Khai learn how to adequately be with each other. That does not stop Khai's body from acting in a non-gentleman way of course. Which I find so endearing to read from the third point of view. He knows he cannot deny that attraction, but he also knows that he shouldn't act upon it;

"She was already a song that payed on endless repeat in his head. If he started having sex with her, this thing would escalate into pure addiction, and what the fuck would happen when she left at the end of the summer?"

Once feelings expand, that's when the struggles begin to form for Khai. Things take a turn when Esme comes across wanting to have a life in America, a life in which she can set as an example for her next in kin. Her dreams come back to life and want to expand and explore everything that is out there for the world to offer to her, but she knows that if she doesn't fight she will not get far. That includes Khai's love towards her as well.

Overall, as previously mentioned... Helen has created a story that has truly gasped my heart and pierced it with her words. It made me cry, made me giggle, and made me swoon over the love and admiration Khai has towards Mỹ. Stories such as this one are not found very often and that's why they need to be cherished in the best of ways. Thank you so much to Berkley for being so generous with this advance copy. And as previously mentioned, Quan and Vy better come next. Vy's story should be mysterious to read because we really don't know much about her. But Quan however... **sighs** he is the rugged brother, with sexy tattoos that will have me drooling over him once Helen writes his story... that's IF she does it... **wink wink Helen Hoang**

ARC galley kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review...

The Bride Test proves that Helen Hoang is not a one hit wonder, ya’ll. This one was so good! Did I love it as much as The Kiss Quotient? Not quite, but that was a really tough act to follow. Still, it was wonderfully written, delightful, and swoony.

If you’ve read TKQ, you know Khai, who is Michael’s cousin. His mother is a bit bossy and wants him married. She knows how Khai is and knows he will never go after a woman on his own, so she finds the perfect girl for him while visiting Vietn5 stars

The Bride Test proves that Helen Hoang is not a one hit wonder, ya’ll. This one was so good! Did I love it as much as The Kiss Quotient? Not quite, but that was a really tough act to follow. Still, it was wonderfully written, delightful, and swoony.

If you’ve read TKQ, you know Khai, who is Michael’s cousin. His mother is a bit bossy and wants him married. She knows how Khai is and knows he will never go after a woman on his own, so she finds the perfect girl for him while visiting Vietnam.

“I chose her for you when I went to Việt Nam. You’ll like her. She’s perfect for you,” she said.

"Why do you say it so it sounds so bad? She's not a 'mail-order bride'. I met her in person.”

Esme comes from Vietnam to America for a new life. She is strong, brave, and wants better than what she has. She’s nervous and hopes that Khai will like her. She doesn’t know english well and it’s hard for her to adjust at first. Khai doesn’t make it easier for her… it’s not on purpose, it’s just his way. But no matter how Khai acts, Esme is patient with him.

He always expected her to turn him away, but she never did. It was a heady thing, her acceptance.

Khai and Esme living together was something else. Khai just doesn’t know how to live with a woman. And as their relationship progresses, things get really confusing for Khai. He doesn’t know how to express his feelings and he thinks he can’t feel certain emotions, even though its obvious he can and he does.

Helen Hoang is a gem. She’s an author who writes what she knows and does it so well. I respect her and love her words. I love so much that her characters have obstacles to overcome and are flawed. They’re real and I can appreciate that. I don’t always want to read a romance with a perfect hero or heroine, that’s not real life. Hoang seamlessly gives us the best balance of realness mixed in with just a little bit of that fairy tale love story.

Khai and Esme completely charmed me. Sometimes two people so different can be perfect for one another. That is them. Khai is autistic, and I loved that he wasn’t a carbon copy of Stella. He had his issues, but he was so lovable. I loved how sweet and determined Esme was. She didn’t want Khai for his money, she just wanted him. Yes, she was fighting for a better life for herself and her daughter, but she grew to truly care for Khai. Their romance was a slow burn and it was great watching it grow.

She didn't need a rich man. She just needed someone who was hers.

The Bride Test is a book you don’t want to miss out on. I laughed, I cried, I smiled and I had so many feels! And I just want to put it out there, I want a Quan book so badly! He was the absolute best in this book! This story was all consuming, heartwarming, and the best kind of romance! I can’t wait for the next book in this series, I’ll be reading anything and everything Helen Hoang releases!!

Warm. Content. Safe in his arms. Him safe in hers. She hugged him tighter. He was bigger and stronger, but she would protect him with everything she had.

Helen Hoang is becoming such an important part in my own bookish world to me. She writes romance stories that matter, that have substance, value and are a treat to read at the same time.

This story was such a delight to read. There wasn't one part about this book that I disliked. I loved the characters and getting to know their backgrounds, why they were the way they were and how their circumstances shaped them. I couldn't get enough and I never wanted this story to end. I'm still craving for moHelen Hoang is becoming such an important part in my own bookish world to me. She writes romance stories that matter, that have substance, value and are a treat to read at the same time.

This story was such a delight to read. There wasn't one part about this book that I disliked. I loved the characters and getting to know their backgrounds, why they were the way they were and how their circumstances shaped them. I couldn't get enough and I never wanted this story to end. I'm still craving for more.

It was informative because my knowledge on autism is abysmal. But whilst I was reading about Khai I was learning about how he views the world and interacts with it.Esme is a mixed-raced girl who came to the US from Vietnam and seeing how she embraced and fought through the challenges of being an immigrant was so incredibly admirable.

And then their love story started forming through all this... don't get me started. It was everything that it needed to be.

I so appreciated that their actual Vietnamese names were used, how the culture was infused because it brought such authenticity and realness to the story and its characters. It was their truth.

I want more of these types of novels. More of these types of stories told and Helen Hoang is really setting the standard for this.

Just a side note, the Author's Note is just as valuable as the actual story. I think we tend to skip this a lot, but this adds such great insight to why Helen Hoang wrote this book. It was moving.

--------------------

Look what has arrived on me kindle! Guess what I'll be doing at work?...more

Helen Hoang has done it again! Similarly to The Kiss Quotient, this perfectly balances a mix of charming romance and deeper topics and I loved the heck out of it. The only thing that really kept me from giving this a full 5 stars was the weird power imbalance between Khai and Esme. I never doubted them or their feelings for each other, but it did just feel a little weird as a reader knowing the stakes and the secrets that were being kept behind the scenes. With all that being said I still HIGHLYHelen Hoang has done it again! Similarly to The Kiss Quotient, this perfectly balances a mix of charming romance and deeper topics and I loved the heck out of it. The only thing that really kept me from giving this a full 5 stars was the weird power imbalance between Khai and Esme. I never doubted them or their feelings for each other, but it did just feel a little weird as a reader knowing the stakes and the secrets that were being kept behind the scenes. With all that being said I still HIGHLY recommend y'all check this out and I cannot wait to read a million more books from Helen in the future!...more

So, mail-order bride scenario in romance is not exactly my idea of a good time. (And neither was a male escort one in The Kiss Quotient). But what Helen Hoang undoubtedly has a talent for is creating characters that are kind and empathetic.

Esme is recruited by Khai’s mom to seduce and marry him, so that he finally can have someone to be with. He is on the spectrum, and isn’t good at relationships, for obvious reasons. Now,More serious, less smutty, equally sweet, compared to The Kiss Quotient.

So, mail-order bride scenario in romance is not exactly my idea of a good time. (And neither was a male escort one in The Kiss Quotient). But what Helen Hoang undoubtedly has a talent for is creating characters that are kind and empathetic.

Esme is recruited by Khai’s mom to seduce and marry him, so that he finally can have someone to be with. He is on the spectrum, and isn’t good at relationships, for obvious reasons. Now, this can go wrong in many ways, but Khai’s mom is super nice and truly believes Esme is the best match for her son. Esme isn’t exactly a seductress, but a goofy girl with a big heart (and some mistakes in her past). And Khai believes himself incapable of feeling emotions.

I feel like The Bride Test is a weightier, more serious work. Hoang draws on her parents’ immigrant past, adding a big dose of realism to this romance, but not exactly going all the way there, it is a smutty romance after all. Esme and Khai’s personal journeys are more real too, and so are their problems.

I liked The Bride Test a lot, and inhaled it in a matter of hours. I didn’t like it quite as much as The Kiss Quotient, because apparently I like fantasy scenarios more than real ones. And I clearly prefer a lot of smut too. Esme and Khai’s relationship is a steamy one , but I would have preferred it... even more so. The book has the sexiest haircut scene though. It’s amazing how arousing a conversation about boundaries and sensory sensitivity can be! @.@ And when Khai and Quan and Michael are in a different scene together, it’s a total riot! You are in for a treat.

Now, more wait for the next Helen Hoang romance. I don't know what it is yet, but I hope it’s Quan’s turn....more

The Bride Test is the second installment in Helen Hoang's collection of adult romance standalones titled The Kiss Quotient. As opposed to many other readers, I personally enjoyed The Bride Test much more than its predecessor. Hoang continues to be inclusive with a high-functioning autistic primary character. Subtle education about this amazing population shatters ignorant stereotypes as we witness internal processing, growth, and love. Yes, love. Doesn't it look and feel different to us all regaThe Bride Test is the second installment in Helen Hoang's collection of adult romance standalones titled The Kiss Quotient. As opposed to many other readers, I personally enjoyed The Bride Test much more than its predecessor. Hoang continues to be inclusive with a high-functioning autistic primary character. Subtle education about this amazing population shatters ignorant stereotypes as we witness internal processing, growth, and love. Yes, love. Doesn't it look and feel different to us all regardless of so-called limitations? A theme related to immigration in this book shows true limitations and puts things in perspective.

"How did you change your life when you were trapped like this? Her history didn’t define her. Her origins didn’t define her. At least, they shouldn’t. She could be more, if she had a chance. But people didn’t see who she was inside. They didn’t know. And she had no way to show them without an opportunity."

Well-done, again, Ms. Hoang. This will be a re-read for me for sure. Check it out!

My favorite quote:"...and sometimes one person could make a world of difference."

Thank you to the following for permitting me access to a digital review copy (DRC) of The Bride Test. This generosity did not impact my honesty when rating/reviewing.Source: Edelweiss+Author: Helen HoangPublisher: Berkley Publishing GroupOn Sale Date: May 7, 2019

Note: All quotes were checked against the final, published edition....more

Last year I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang. It was enjoyable and cute and oh, so unique. Never had I read a book from the point of view of a character on the autism spectrum. To be honest, its something I never even thought about, especially not when it came to romance novels. I really do wish that more authors take that POV into account in the future as it was definitely an interestinok, so despite my average rating, this book was actually super cute!

Last year I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang. It was enjoyable and cute and oh, so unique. Never had I read a book from the point of view of a character on the autism spectrum. To be honest, its something I never even thought about, especially not when it came to romance novels. I really do wish that more authors take that POV into account in the future as it was definitely an interesting read.

Now, Hoang has given us a new book, set in the same world, with yet another set of wonderful charcters and I was so excited to read it.

I am not going to go much into the plot, as I'm sure the synopsis covers that, so I'm just going to tell you all the things I loved and didn't love so much.

First, I love these new characters. Khai is the autistic character in this novel and I loved him! He was nothing like Stella in The Kiss Quotient, showing how not everyone with Asperger's syndrome is the same. I often feel like authors represent certain peoples in a shallow and stereotyped manner. Thankfully, as an ownvoices author, Hoang has a wonderful and insightful understanding of ASD that gives depth and originality to her characters.

Esme was also a fun character although I admit there were times when I questioned how fast she was moving in this relationship. That though is more a problem in the plot, and I will get to that later.

Quan, Khai's brother, was awesome and I hope the next book in this series is about him! Cô Nga was also great, I thought she was going to turn out to be a horrible person, as future mothers-in-laws usually are in novels, but she was actually really sweet and caring. Generally, everyone was great. I only wish we would've had a longer Stella and Michael cameo!

Overall, the book was fun and cute and made me laugh on several occasions. The characters were likable and Khai was honestly a sweetheart in his own unique way, and it was all great. I read the book in one afternoon and I wasn't able to put it down. And yet, I only gave it three stars.

There was something in this book that I wanted and that it didn't quite deliver. The romance was cute, but everything else seemed off to me. Things were either too convenient or only put in place for the sake of tension. The book also felt a bit predictable. And yes, I know that romance novels are pretty predictable by nature, there are only so many places the book could have gone, but still. I expected more.

The other issue was the dynamics of the relationship. Sometimes it felt rushed. Other times it felt as if there was no base to it. How well did these character really know each other? The book takes place over one summer and it's not like the two spend that time getting to know each other all that well. I couldn't quite fall into their story the way I wanted. I was lacking a genuine connection with the characters and the story overall.

In the end, I still do recommend this book. It's a quick and entertaining story from a pov we never get to see. The moment it ended I wanted to keep going and see where else the story was going to go. I also can't wait for book three to come out. Hopefully, we finally get to see Quan's story!

**ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!**

The story is sweet, kind, loving and gentle. And did I mention steamy?? Oh my!

Khai’s mother is desperate to find him a wife. Khai’s problem is not that simple – he is autistic and just has no interest in personal relationships. Well, time for MOM to step in! On a “bride seeking” trip to Vietnam, she crosses paths with a beautiful young woman working at the hotel. After a brief, but far from subtle conversation, she gives Esme a most interesting proposition. Come to America, and win over her loveThe story is sweet, kind, loving and gentle. And did I mention steamy?? Oh my!

Khai’s mother is desperate to find him a wife. Khai’s problem is not that simple – he is autistic and just has no interest in personal relationships. Well, time for MOM to step in! On a “bride seeking” trip to Vietnam, she crosses paths with a beautiful young woman working at the hotel. After a brief, but far from subtle conversation, she gives Esme a most interesting proposition. Come to America, and win over her loveless son by the end of the summer. If it works and all goes well, she will be blissfully married with a new life in America. Unsuccessful, Esme will return home to her simple life in Vietnam.

Esme and khai’s relationship was delightfully played out as they navigated each other’s differences, while growing profoundly fond of one another along the way. Will Esme win khai over? Can she win her place deeply in the heart of someone who seemingly has no interest in love at all?

My only reservation in reading this book was that there was a lot of sex talk. And I mean a lot!At times I think it took the emphasis away from the story itself. But for those of you who love the detailed steaminess in your romance book, (is it warm in here?) then you will be very happy with this one!

A buddy read with Susanne that left us blushing at times!☺️

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing, Edelweiss and Helen Hoang for an ARC to read and review...more

"Khai didn't hurt. He felt nothing most of the time. That was exactly why he steered clear of romantic relationships. If someone liked him that way, he'd only end up disappointing them when he couldn't reciprocate. It wouldn't be right."

Khai Diep is handsome, successful, a devoted son and brother. He has his routines and he likes everything in its place. He thinks he's broken because he doesn't feel emotions the way others do, and it has caused his problems. But his family knows it's j4.5 stars.

"Khai didn't hurt. He felt nothing most of the time. That was exactly why he steered clear of romantic relationships. If someone liked him that way, he'd only end up disappointing them when he couldn't reciprocate. It wouldn't be right."

Khai Diep is handsome, successful, a devoted son and brother. He has his routines and he likes everything in its place. He thinks he's broken because he doesn't feel emotions the way others do, and it has caused his problems. But his family knows it's just the way his autism manifests itself, and they want to help him because they know how special he is.

Because Khai isn't interested in getting involved in a romantic relationship, his mother decides she needs to intervene. On a trip to Vietnam she meets Esme, a young, mixed-race girl working as a maid in Ho Chi Minh City, and is taken by Esme's beauty, her integrity, and her intelligence. She offers Esme the opportunity to come to America and live with Khai for the summer and attend a few family weddings with him, in the hopes that she can make him fall in love with her and decide to marry her. If not, she'll go back to Vietnam.

While she is shocked at first about this offer, Esme realizes this is an amazing opportunity for a new life, for her and her family. Khai is handsome and kind, and she would love to marry him. But seducing him isn't as easy as she thought it might be. Although she is quickly smitten with Khai, he resists her advances even though he is immensely attracted to her. As he realizes that if he doesn't marry her, he'll lose her forever. But Esme wants it all, and won't settle for a marriage of convenience, no matter how much she has fallen in love with Khai.

"It wasn't loneliness if it could be eradicated with work or a Netflix marathon or a good book. Real loneliness would stick with you all the time. Real loneliness would hurt you nonstop."

The Bride Test is an utterly charming, sweet, and poignant rom-com, about the things we're willing to do for those we love, and the sacrifices we're not willing to make. This is also quite a sexy book—the sex scenes are pretty steamy!

I love the characters Helen Hoang created—they're tremendously memorable and likable, and I won't soon forget them. I really enjoy the way she writes, so now I'm going to need to read The Kiss Quotient, too. This is definitely a book that would make a terrific movie, if only because I'd love to see how Khai and Esme (and Quan, too) would look on the big screen!

I legit had a huge smile on my face from start to finish (okay, okay, I did cry at certain parts!). Along with almost everyone who read The Kiss Quotient I have been anticipating this book for a year. After loving Helen Hoang's first book I was super hyped for her next work AND IT SURPASSED MY EXPECTATIONS!!

Esme is struggling in Vietnam to support her family. They rely on her and when the opportunity to go to America is presented — by a woman who is desperate to find a good Vietnamese girl for hI legit had a huge smile on my face from start to finish (okay, okay, I did cry at certain parts!). Along with almost everyone who read The Kiss Quotient I have been anticipating this book for a year. After loving Helen Hoang's first book I was super hyped for her next work AND IT SURPASSED MY EXPECTATIONS!!

Esme is struggling in Vietnam to support her family. They rely on her and when the opportunity to go to America is presented — by a woman who is desperate to find a good Vietnamese girl for her son — at first Esme is strongly apposed but it is not an opportunity she has the luxury to decline.

Khai has autism and has spent his whole life believing that he is incapable of love. And as such has refrained from any kind of romantic or physical relationship. When Esme comes to live with him for the summer Khai is uncomfortable with someone in his space, changing things around the house and making him feel things he is unaccustomed to.

Now don't make the mistake of thinking that this is the simple plot of ‘marriage for a green card’. Esme has secrets and she's not one to rely on a man to secure her future. She is determined to earn her place and to make the most of her summer by learning as much as she can.

I really enjoyed Khai's POV. His thoughts were so cute and innocent in a way. I'm a huge fan of autism reps so learning more about his autism was a real eye opener and so interesting.

Guys the slow burn was real!! Is there anything better in a great New Adult novel?

I loved that this is a spin off. It meant I got a sneak peak into the lives of Michael and Stella 💜💜

Khai and Esme hold a special place in my heart and I am most definitely going to reread this soon.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

__Pre-read

I haven't even read this yet. But I already know that Khai is going to be my husband.

Khai’s mother is desperate to find her son a wife - so desperate that she travels all the way to Vietnam! There, she discovers Esme (My) who she knows is the perfect match for Khai.

Khai however, doesn’t want a wife. He doesn’t feel things like others and has never felt love. Khai is autistic, dislikes being touched and doesn’t really like being around people. That said, when he sees Esme he has an intense and immediate reacti3.25 Stars.

A Light-Hearted Rom Com with several blush worthy moments!

Khai’s mother is desperate to find her son a wife - so desperate that she travels all the way to Vietnam! There, she discovers Esme (My) who she knows is the perfect match for Khai.

Khai however, doesn’t want a wife. He doesn’t feel things like others and has never felt love. Khai is autistic, dislikes being touched and doesn’t really like being around people. That said, when he sees Esme he has an intense and immediate reaction to her. It is something that has never happened to him. Esme too, is intrigued. Khai is kind and he treats her with respect. Sparks just fly when these two are around each other!

If only Khai felt more than attraction. If only he was capable of love. Can anything help shift his way of thinking before he loses the girl?

“The Bride Test” is a sweet light enjoyable read. It is sure to make rom com readers smile! What I will say however, is that “The Bride Test” made this girl right here Blush! Like OMG.. (I was not prepared!!) It contained lots of sexy thoughts and several “cover my eye” moments (which were severely embarrassing for ole’ stick in the mud Susanne!). Though this novel was a little sexy for me, I really enjoyed the characters, especially Khai’s brother Quan - fingers crossed that there will be another story featuring him!

This was a buddy read with Kaceey. So glad we read this one together!

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group and to Helen Hoang for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on Goodreads on 4.27.19Will be published on Amazon on 5.7.19.Excerpt to be published on Instagram....more

I'll admit I was disappointed when I finished this one because I did enjoy The Kiss Quotient and had high hopes this would be a good read as well. Lack of good chemistry is the main issue I had with this book and why it was only an okay read. Once again the author has featured characters that are underrepresented in fiction which is awesome but given romance is such a big part of the story, the fact I wasn't really feeling it, was a significant problem. Other readers really connected with the chI'll admit I was disappointed when I finished this one because I did enjoy The Kiss Quotient and had high hopes this would be a good read as well. Lack of good chemistry is the main issue I had with this book and why it was only an okay read. Once again the author has featured characters that are underrepresented in fiction which is awesome but given romance is such a big part of the story, the fact I wasn't really feeling it, was a significant problem. Other readers really connected with the characters so definitely this is one of those your mileage may vary type reads.

This is the second book in The Kiss Quotient series but can easily be read as a standalone. Some characters from the first book make appearances in this one which was nice although some were "don't blink or you'll miss it" type cameos. It looks like a third book is in the works and after reading this one I have a pretty good guess who will be the main character. Even though this book wasn't my favorite, I still wouldn't mind checking the next book out.

Esme Tran has lived her entire life in Vietnam and is working at a hotel when she is approached by a woman who has an interesting proposition. She wants Esme to come to America and marry her son. The prospect of a better life for not just her but also her family, is why Esme takes the woman up on her offer. But getting the son, Khai, to fall in love with her isn't going to be easy.

I wasn't a huge fan of the premise to begin with as having a green card type plot doesn't seem like the best use of diverse characters. I wish the author would have chosen a different reason for Esme to come to America and interact with Khai. However, the author did attempt to give substance to the characters by featuring such things as Esme's drive to succeed and Khai learning how to deal with his emotions. Like I said before I wasn't feeling much chemistry between Esme and Khai and in general I thought the story needing some polishing up as it didn't quite work for me. It just felt like so many aspects of the story were not fully developed or not developed to their potential is maybe a better way of putting it. Everything felt slightly off with this book. It wasn't horrible, but I definitely walked away wishing I would have liked it better.

Thank you to First to Read for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion....more

Right then and there, Khai decided green was his favorite color, but it had to be this specific shade of seafoam green.

Story 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟My never thought about anything bigger then living her life, working as hard as she can so she could see her daughter happy. Yes, she got pregnant pretty young. But she would do it again just so she could have her wonderful baby girl by her side.Then My meets a strange rich lady that searches a husband for her son - Khai. Even though My refuses, after talking to her Right then and there, Khai decided green was his favorite color, but it had to be this specific shade of seafoam green.

Story 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟My never thought about anything bigger then living her life, working as hard as she can so she could see her daughter happy. Yes, she got pregnant pretty young. But she would do it again just so she could have her wonderful baby girl by her side.Then My meets a strange rich lady that searches a husband for her son - Khai. Even though My refuses, after talking to her family she gives it a try. Stay the summer, Khais mother said, and when it doesn’t work out well, you can leave. But when My meets Khai she knows he’s different, but after some time she starts to like it. The way he talks, the way he thinks. But Khai is Khai. And problems and misunderstandings are just the beginning.

Oh, you guys, I found my new favorite book. ♥️(Sorry, it’s still on Second Place, because nothing can beat the hating game) I was happy and smiling throughout the whole book (okay, maybe I was sad a few times) and i grinned like a crazy person while reading it. This is definitely a book that makes you happy and takes you away from reality for a few hours. It was funny, lovely, romantic, cute, sad and so so so so sweet. I can definitely recommend this to anyone that loved „the love quotient“ or „the hating game“ (hihi).

Character 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 But now, a new dream formed in her heart, one she’d never dared to encourage but wanted with breathless intensity: doing something she was passionate about, changing this world for the better, being more. She didn’t even know what she was good at, but if she could explore and learn ...I don’t even know who I love more... Khai, that is just so caring, quiet and intelligent or My - aka Esme - who was this lovely girl with a beautiful smile, honest and pure thoughts and the biggest and strongest heart of them all. Throughout the book we get to know those two cuties and with every page I read I thought how different we humans really are. We saw how Khai hurt or loved in his own kind of way. We saw how Esme was all of us - she changed her way of thinking like crazy. She thought she would get rejected and the next minute she thought she would get accepted. And it was always that way. Sometimes she thought the worst about a situation or a person and when it came true she was still devastated. And, i mean, aren’t we all Esme sometimes? We hope and hope and hope and want it to be true but we also don’t want to be sad when it comes out negative. And so we change between the positive and the negative outcome all the time and our feelings are so mixed. But I guess that is what makes us human? I really really loved to see how Khai and Esme were both so really relatable. Next to those beautiful human beings there are also all of the side characters, who helped those two evolve, develop and be happy together, even though they didn’t realize it so fast.

Lonely was for people who had feelings, which he didn’t. It wasn’t loneliness if it could be eradicated with work or a Netflix marathon or a good book. Real loneliness would stick with you all the time. Real loneliness would hurt you nonstop.

Relationships 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Speaking of cute things. This romantic but steamy relationship between Esme and Khai was just so heartwarming and it made me so so happy. Yes, they were both so weird sometimes, but I loved this so much about them. Aren’t we all a little weird sometimes? At least I am! And i don’t think it’s a bad thing. And the way the author showed Khais thinking, the process, his questions and oh so confusing feelings. It was fascinating and even though I don’t know if it represents people with autism good or bad - I thought it was so lovely to really see what he thought about what and whom. All in all I’m absolutely satisfied and in love with the characters in this book.

Writing style 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The author wrote the kiss quotient - and I loved it. She wrote this book - and I loved it. Coincidence? I think not. It’s probably this light, heartwarming, cute and funny writing that made me love these books so much. It was the POV of both of the main characters so we could see what their intentions were behind every step they took and behind every word they said. I literally flew through the book because It was so good and I even sneaked some pages into my work schedule, just so I could read a bit more. It brightened my mood when I was sad or angry and it made me smile all the time. This is definitely one of the books I will reread till the end of my life and I’m so so happy my friend Warda recommended it to me. Thank you girl ♥️ you were right this book is perfect.

And you? All I need is you. Her name, her name, her name, her name. Pure stillness. In her mind and in her heart. Warm. Content. Safe in his arms. Him safe in hers. She hugged him tighter. He was bigger and stronger, but she would protect him with everything she had....more

I did not like The Kiss Quotient. I thought it lacked… life. Emotion. Vulnerability. Sweet romance. And I did not feel connected to the characters one bit. From what I remember, I didn’t even push past the halfway point. That’s how much I did not care.

All that to say that I only gave this one a chance because I am a sucker for cutesy covers and can’t help but give authors who have disappointed me in the past a second chance. As I admit this, I realize it applies to people in general, too, so nowI did not like The Kiss Quotient. I thought it lacked… life. Emotion. Vulnerability. Sweet romance. And I did not feel connected to the characters one bit. From what I remember, I didn’t even push past the halfway point. That’s how much I did not care.

All that to say that I only gave this one a chance because I am a sucker for cutesy covers and can’t help but give authors who have disappointed me in the past a second chance. As I admit this, I realize it applies to people in general, too, so now I’m wondering if this is a quality or a weakness of mine.

Regardless, I am elated I read this book that can be read as a standalone. No need to read The Kiss Quotient. Actually, I recommend forgetting it exists altogether and diving into this one right away. This story was much lovelier, romantic and humorous! I could one hundred percent picture everything on the big screen.

I can’t even decide who I love most between Esme and Khai. The two belong together, that is quite obvious, as they complement each other and I’m sure it isn’t healthy to be jealous of fictional couples but alas I very much want what they have. They are so lucky to have been forced onto one another. Even if that sounds wrong.

They are not, however, perfect. Esme’s lies are annoying and her going along with that last mischievous plan was unbelievable. I saw it coming, tried to prevent it somehow with my mind, admitted defeat and witnessed everything unfold with disappointed eyes. I get why it happened. But still. If you’re confused, well you should be because I don’t want to spoil you. If you know what I’m referring to, let’s bang our heads together.

Anyways, I adored this book and am now looking forward to this author’s future releases!

He could give her everything she wanted, a green card, real diamonds, his body, but love? Stone hearts didn’t love.

She knew why he couldn’t love her. She could go to school, change her clothes, and change her speech, but she could never change where she’d come from.

I didn't think I could love Khai & Esme's story as much as Michael & Stella's, but I did! I'm officially fangirling hard over Helen Hoang! This was a sto*****FIVE STARS*****{ARC Generously Provided by Berkley Publishing Group}

He could give her everything she wanted, a green card, real diamonds, his body, but love? Stone hearts didn’t love.

She knew why he couldn’t love her. She could go to school, change her clothes, and change her speech, but she could never change where she’d come from.

I didn't think I could love Khai & Esme's story as much as Michael & Stella's, but I did! I'm officially fangirling hard over Helen Hoang! This was a story that I easily was swept away by. I completely lost track of time and obligations. That is what made this a phenomenal read for me.

I don’t know why but I really love when the romance doesn’t come so easy for the main characters. When a character faces challenges that most people don’t, it makes the journey infinitely more interesting. Khai is Michael’s (from “The Kiss Quotient) cousin. He too, has Asperger’s as Stella did from book one, but I would say they aren’t on the same spectrum. Khai’s mother goes off to Vietnam to find her son a bride. She worries that he will be alone for the rest of his life unless she steps in to play cupid for him. She meets Esme, by chance, and is so impressed by her that she offers her an all expense paid trip to San Francisco, where she will spend a couple of months trying to get close to Khai, which will hopefully end up with a wedding.

While Khai and Esme may have come from two different worlds, they really do end up being true soulmates. Khai is set in his ways. Likes his routines. He doesn’t think he needs a woman. Khai doesn’t believe he has a heart, and this stems from tragic losses from his past. He’s internalized a lot of his pain and having Asperger’s, doesn’t make it easy for him to understand his feelings.

Esme comes from very impoverished conditions. She works as a hotel maid in Vietnam, to help support her family. Meeting Khai’s mother and being offered a trip to San Francisco was almost too good to be true to Esme, but she has an honest soul and marrying someone just to get a green card to be able to stay in the U.S., was not something she could ever go through with. Her plan was to find her American father, who left Vietnam before she was born and gain citizenship that way. But, when she sees Khai for the first time, there is no denying her heart was beating for him. Poor Esme battles with insecurities. She thinks being poor and not having a college education, make her an unsuitable match for Khai.

Their relationship starts off awkward but eventually strong attraction takes hold and Esme is falling hard for Khai, but he truly believes he is incapable of loving anyone else, and so the angst ensues.

I loved the relationship between Khai and his older brother Quan, who was always there for his brother. He took it upon himself to help Khai maneuver through some challenges that he was not equipped to handle on his own.

You can’t help but root for this couple to find a way to overcome their challenges and end up in a happily ever after that they truly deserved. I was so sad when I got to the end of the story because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these wonderful characters.

Khai Diep is handsome, successful and autistic. He doesn't feel things like others and believes he is incapable of the emotion required for love. Khai's mother wants nothing more than to see her son married, even if it means going to Vietnam and finding his future bride herself!

Esme (My) is a hardworking, single mother who only wants to provide the best for her family. At her mother's urging, she accepts the offer to spend the🥰 The Bride Test is a sexy and sweet romance story with substance. 💖

Khai Diep is handsome, successful and autistic. He doesn't feel things like others and believes he is incapable of the emotion required for love. Khai's mother wants nothing more than to see her son married, even if it means going to Vietnam and finding his future bride herself!

Esme (My) is a hardworking, single mother who only wants to provide the best for her family. At her mother's urging, she accepts the offer to spend the summer in California with the intention of seducing Khai into marrying her.

Oh, how I loved the unfolding romance between Khai and Esme! I found myself smitten by them and was solidly rooting for them as a couple. Yes, I am not at all embarrassed to admit I am firmly #TeamKhaiandEsme! Hoang does such an amazing job of fleshing out her characters. They are flawed, genuine and each undergoing an emotional journey. I was genuinely invested in these characters and their story. I found myself desperately wanting Khai to realize that he is so much more than this autism. I was rooting for Esme to find her way, feel proud of who she is and see all she can become. And I may have become a tad smitten with Quan, Khai's older brother. I'm hoping we see more of him in a future story.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and then I read the author's note at the end. It added even more depth for me to the overall emotion of the story. Don't skip it! As I wait for Quan's story to hopefully come to life - I'll be going back to read The Kiss Quotient. I might be one of the few people that hasn't read it but I plan to remedy that soon Helen Hoang! 😉...more

JanB Nice review Bern, my book club just chose The Kiss Quotient as a summer read. I'm skeptical as it's not my usual genre, but willing to give it a try :Nice review Bern, my book club just chose The Kiss Quotient as a summer read. I'm skeptical as it's not my usual genre, but willing to give it a try :)...more
May 22, 2019 10:03PM

(Bern) Mom to 2 Posh Lil DivasJanB wrote: "Nice review Bern, my book club just chose The Kiss Quotient as a summer read. I'm skeptical as it's not my usual genre, but willing to giJanB wrote: "Nice review Bern, my book club just chose The Kiss Quotient as a summer read. I'm skeptical as it's not my usual genre, but willing to give it a try :)"That's a great way to enjoy a different genre Jan. I'm hoping to read it this summer too 🥰...more
May 23, 2019 03:26PM

This book was super cute. This story follows Khai (Michael’s cousin from The Kiss Quotient) and Khai is on the autism spectrum and doesn’t think he’s capable of feeling love. His love interest Esme is this Vietnamese woman his mother finds him and she arranges a marriage for them because she’s afraid her son will never find anyone.

So we get this amazing fake dating trope that I love, on top of Helen Hoang’s adorable cute writing. I always really enjoy her writing - it’s so fluffy and cute and mThis book was super cute. This story follows Khai (Michael’s cousin from The Kiss Quotient) and Khai is on the autism spectrum and doesn’t think he’s capable of feeling love. His love interest Esme is this Vietnamese woman his mother finds him and she arranges a marriage for them because she’s afraid her son will never find anyone.

So we get this amazing fake dating trope that I love, on top of Helen Hoang’s adorable cute writing. I always really enjoy her writing - it’s so fluffy and cute and makes my heart happy. I didn’t like this book quite as much as The Kiss Quotient, but this book is still a really cute, fun time. I absolutely love Quan, Khai’s brother. And apparently the next book in this series will be from his POV, which I am so excited for!!!! He’s just the sweetest older brother to Khai and their relationship is SO SOFT.

I also really loved Khai and Esme’s relationship. It’s the trope of the guy being super negative and pessimistic and her being really hopeful and bubbly and they just bring out the best in each other and it’s real cute. I only knocked off a star because the ending kind of got melodramatic and there was some miscommunication and basically the same thing that happened in The Kiss Quotient. The ending was also very rushed and I felt like I needed more at the very end. But anyways, it was a cute story, well worth your time....more

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! After finishing The Kiss Quotient a week ago, getting approved for this arc was amazing. I started it right away. And, sadly, I realized it was going to be nothing like The Kiss Quotient.

The Kiss Quotient characters had chemistry, whereas in this book, I felt like there was little-to-no chemistry. Obviously, that’s my opinion and some of you will disagree when the book is released. But, I wasn’t a fan.

I’ll write more when the book is released in May; 2 / 5 ~

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! After finishing The Kiss Quotient a week ago, getting approved for this arc was amazing. I started it right away. And, sadly, I realized it was going to be nothing like The Kiss Quotient.

The Kiss Quotient characters had chemistry, whereas in this book, I felt like there was little-to-no chemistry. Obviously, that’s my opinion and some of you will disagree when the book is released. But, I wasn’t a fan.

I’ll write more when the book is released in May; I don't want to risk giving the plot away. Either way, I think many of you will like this story and I still recommend it to those who enjoyed The Kiss Quotient. I have a strong feeling I'll end up having the unpopular opinion, but we shall see in May!...more

Simply amazed!!! These two books that I have read by this author..... Speechless......

I seriously can not wait for more from her!!! Her books consume me, make me fall in love, not just with characters but this authors writing more and more!!! The emotions, yep, this book you will definitely feel them. Laugh, smile, be angry, and cry real tears, but ohhhhhh soooooo worth it!!

If you want to be swept away in a good book, a beautiful memorable romance, this is it!! Khai & Esme are such a sweetSimply amazed!!! These two books that I have read by this author..... Speechless......

I seriously can not wait for more from her!!! Her books consume me, make me fall in love, not just with characters but this authors writing more and more!!! The emotions, yep, this book you will definitely feel them. Laugh, smile, be angry, and cry real tears, but ohhhhhh soooooo worth it!!

If you want to be swept away in a good book, a beautiful memorable romance, this is it!! Khai & Esme are such a sweet couple, full on lovable!!

So over this past weekend I read both The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test. Helen Hoang completely stole my heart with her delightful characters and enchanting storylines.The Bride Test was so charming it read like a fairytale, a more diverse much steamier fairytale. I like my romances with strong males and sassy females and this book checked both those boxes off. I also like my romances to be more than just a romance (if you know what I mean) and this one definitely wa Sweet. Steamy. Diverse.

So over this past weekend I read both The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test. Helen Hoang completely stole my heart with her delightful characters and enchanting storylines.The Bride Test was so charming it read like a fairytale, a more diverse much steamier fairytale. I like my romances with strong males and sassy females and this book checked both those boxes off. I also like my romances to be more than just a romance (if you know what I mean) and this one definitely was that! Miss Hoang has a new fan in me, I will absolutely read anything she writes.

Once upon a time... Khai, Who is on the autism spectrum was convinced he could not love. His mom was convinced he could, so she traveled to Vietnam to find her son a wife. Esme was a hard-working single mom. When Khai’s mother runs across Esme working as a maid in a hotel she knows that she is the ONE. So Esme boards a plane to America to seduce the prince, oh I mean Khai. BUT will Khai learn to love? And what will happen when Esme’s secrets come out? Will these two be able to conquer the cultural differences, the language barriers, Khai’s fears and live happily ever after? You’re going to need to read this to find out!

Both Khai and Esme were delightful characters that I completely adored.Esme was so spunky and sassy and I found her strength admirable. Khai, I really had a soft spot for him he was so vulnerable, it was tough to watch him struggle with certain things so much. The chemistry between these two was off the charts, they were definitely physically attracted to one another. This book has a lot of sizzle, steam,. and heat. If that’s not your thing I’d skim those parts, because this is a book not to be missed. I’d also suggest you read the authors note at the end it was so interesting how so much of this book related to her own life, a definite tribute to her mother. I like the trend toward more diverse books, but sometimes it seems a bit forced. This was a perfect example of a diverse book done extremely well. I cannot wait to see what Miss Hoang has in store for us next, might I suggest Quan’s story.😉

At the beginning before start reading The Bride Test I wasn't sure if it could be as good as The Kisss Quotient so I'm so happy to say this was absolutely fantastic!The Brite Test is a heartwarming and sweet story.

I adored Esme and Khai, their story was unique and full of emotions.The romance was sweet and so cute , my heart *sigh* I was swooning with these two!They are two characters from different worlds but somehow they were perfect for each other! Esme is a strong heroine and I like 5 STARS

At the beginning before start reading The Bride Test I wasn't sure if it could be as good as The Kisss Quotient so I'm so happy to say this was absolutely fantastic!The Brite Test is a heartwarming and sweet story.

I adored Esme and Khai, their story was unique and full of emotions.The romance was sweet and so cute , my heart *sigh* I was swooning with these two!They are two characters from different worlds but somehow they were perfect for each other! Esme is a strong heroine and I liked her a lot!I liked the build up between Esme and Khai through the story.

"It made him a greedy bastard, but he wanted her love. He wanted to be her one, the recipient of her smiles, the reason for her smiles, her drug. She was his.”

I need more books from Helen Hoang, her writing is flawless and her stories captivating and addictive!

I loved this book! I love Khai and My/ Esme’s story more than Michael and Stella’s story! Their story is sexier, more passionate, more real, poignant, genuine and emotional.

Khai might think he is out of feelings, he cannot connect with people, it’s impossible for him to love someone. Well, it’s so wrong ! Because from the beginning even he resists to change and he is irritated to live with Esme, blaming her push him out of his comfort zone, heFour compassionate girl loves boy loves girl stars!

I loved this book! I love Khai and My/ Esme’s story more than Michael and Stella’s story! Their story is sexier, more passionate, more real, poignant, genuine and emotional.

Khai might think he is out of feelings, he cannot connect with people, it’s impossible for him to love someone. Well, it’s so wrong ! Because from the beginning even he resists to change and he is irritated to live with Esme, blaming her push him out of his comfort zone, he easily starts to connect with her. At first his all feelings are sexual but as they continue to spend time together, he slowly peels himself from the layers he kept to hide himself from outside world and his walls start to crumple with the patience, smile and friendly attitudes of Esme.

Khai might be suffer from autism but he tries to undermine what he did wrong and he never wants to hurt Esme. He tries his best to make her happy which makes him sweet, loyal, good hearted, lovable hero!

I cut the points because of Esme’s first dubious and calculated moves, at the first time he meets with Khai. I can understand she loves her child, she has her own American Dream and she gave her word to her mother for seducing Khai but she tried to act like another person to take his attraction. I can understand she keeps her cleaning job as a big secret because she was so ashamed and she wanted to be desirable and strong so Khai could love her! But she keeps her child as a secret till the end which really disappointed me!!!Because the real relationships depend on trust.

And other disappointment was her marriage attempt with Quan! I know she wants to stay at the states for giving better opportunities to her child but still she should have found another solution. She shouldn’t have accepted to make fake marriage with her love of her life’s brother! Because there was a slight chance that Khai might have done nothing to stop them. So it was risky move!And also her real father’s appearance on the wedding at the last minute was full of cliche. Just like Khai’s last second arrival to stop the wedding!

As a summary, I loved this couple, I loved their love story , their chemistry, their compassion. This is sweet, sexy, captivating book! In my option Ms Hoang’s writing is getting so much better with each book she creates.

I think she owes Quan his own book! I wish she chooses to write a sequel for him. I cannot wait to read that! ...more

I don't normally publish reviews for ARCs this early but since First to Read is shutting down, I know I will forget to grab my reviews before they disappear so I'm doing it now.

Ok. I imagine it is ridiculously hard to write a second book after your first was so successful. As a reader, it's hard not to have high expectations or compare the two. Like many people, I adored The Kiss Quotient and I'm sure a lot of that was because I went in with zero expectations. The cover was cute, the descriptionI don't normally publish reviews for ARCs this early but since First to Read is shutting down, I know I will forget to grab my reviews before they disappear so I'm doing it now.

Ok. I imagine it is ridiculously hard to write a second book after your first was so successful. As a reader, it's hard not to have high expectations or compare the two. Like many people, I adored The Kiss Quotient and I'm sure a lot of that was because I went in with zero expectations. The cover was cute, the description was cute, obviously didn't know the author, and it blew me away. I couldn't stop gushing about it. When I heard about this one, I tried, I really did try, to keep my expectations low. But it's impossible.

So, I liked this one. I did. It didn't blow me away like The Kiss Quotient. But I liked it. I liked Khai. I didn't love My/Esme as much. I couldn't get a handle on her, I felt like there wasn't enough time for her to switch from 'want to get married to get a better life' to 'want to get married because i love him'. I wanted a bit more build up or development to their relationship so I could feel the love. I felt it from Khai's side, but not necessarily from Esme's, and that was a bummer. I definitely feel like the (view spoiler)[not telling him about her daughter (hide spoiler)] thing went on a bit too long. Maybe revealing it earlier and having it as part of the conflict would have been too predictable, I don't know. I did like Khai and Esme together, I just wanted a bit more. Wanted more chemistry, more development.

Other than that, it was a cute read, a very easy quick read, overall I did enjoy it. Really. I will 100% read more from Helen Hoang, can't wait for the 3rd in this series.

I don't want it to sound like I disliked this one, because I didn't. Like I said, it is so hard not to have high expectations or compare a second book to a fantastic first book. So I tried to keep that in mind and not judge too harshly, and honestly it wasn't too hard. It wasn't like I had to keep telling myself 'don't be mean, don't compare'. Not at all, it was a very good, enjoyable, quick, easy read. It was cute, funny and a little dash of sexy. I did like it. But I loved The Kiss Quotient.

One thing though - I am not sure where the 3 years green card thing came from? Yes, I am sure the author did her research and perhaps things have changed, but I am an immigrant. I got married and applied for the green card right away, it took about 6 months to get it and then it is valid for 2 years because I had only been in the country for a year when I got married. I can't remember how long you have to be in the country for that 2 year thing to be waived, maybe 2 years? But either way, my conditional green card was valid for 2 years, then I had to go back and do all the interview things again, then I got my 10 year card, and in a few years I'll have to go back again. Anyway, maybe things have changed (though, not from my quick googling) and I am sure 99% of readers won't even notice that, but I did, and it just struck me as odd.

So bottom line. Liked it a lot, didn't love it, need the next one yesterday!

-----------------------------------------

review to come, still sorting my feelings. even though i try not to compare, it has to be said that i didn't love this one as much as the kiss quotient. whether that is because of the story, the characters or my expectations, i'm not sure. i did like this one, a lot. but maybe not as much as i expected to, and that's the problem with expectations isn't it. anywho. full review to come.

-----------------------------------------ARC received from First to Read in exchange for honest review

The protagonist Khai Diep is Michael's cousin from The Kiss Quotient. He is autistic, nerdy and would rather spend time at a tax convention than a concert. Ever since the death of his bestfriend in a freak accident at 15, Khai believes himself to be incapable of emotions, which prevents him from forming any meaningful relationships outside of his family. His perpetually single status forces his overbearing but well meaning mother to find a bride from VAnother sweet, sexy winner from Helen Hoang.

The protagonist Khai Diep is Michael's cousin from The Kiss Quotient. He is autistic, nerdy and would rather spend time at a tax convention than a concert. Ever since the death of his bestfriend in a freak accident at 15, Khai believes himself to be incapable of emotions, which prevents him from forming any meaningful relationships outside of his family. His perpetually single status forces his overbearing but well meaning mother to find a bride from Viet Nam. Her find is a mixed race woman struggling to save her family from destitution, who agrees to seduce Khai in return for an all expenses paid summer trip to California and US visa. One thing to be said about Hoang's characterisation of mothers is that they are a force to be reckoned with and are absolutely lovable.

Esmeralda Tran is a refreshing change from the clueless, seemingly perfect heroines in contemporary romances. Loosely based on the experiences of the author's own mother, Esme's love for her daughter and her grit and determination to make it in America to support her family were awe-inspiring. Although, I felt there could have been more scenes including her daughter. Would have loved to see Khai bonding with a mini-Esme.

The romance between the leads was too cute. Khai is obsessive and Esme is wonderfully understanding of his needs and boundaries. One thing I was afraid of was Khai being a male version of Stella from The Kiss Quotient. I was glad to see a genuinely unique protagonist with his own mannerisms and quirks.

Some special mentions: Khai's brother Quan is an absolute delight in this book. He was hilarious, irreverent and so damn protective of his little brother, it was unbelievably cute. Can't wait to read his book. The author's note is not to be missed. A very brief but beautiful cameo of Michael and Stella for the fans of the previous book. I relished every scene of their wedding, as short as it was.

The Kiss Quotient was one of my top favorites last year. Helen Hoang was such a beautiful surprise with her quirky, refreshing, crisp writing voice and this wonderful story about a woman on the autism spectrum. I remember that Michael told Stella about his cousin, Khai, who was autistic too - The Bride Test is his stor

The Kiss Quotient was one of my top favorites last year. Helen Hoang was such a beautiful surprise with her quirky, refreshing, crisp writing voice and this wonderful story about a woman on the autism spectrum. I remember that Michael told Stella about his cousin, Khai, who was autistic too - The Bride Test is his story.

As a woman in Vietnam with a toddler at home and little education she doesn't have much. She lives with her mother and grandmother, sleeps with them in one room on the floor. She works harder than anyone. One day a woman makes her an irresistible offer: to go to the US for a couple of months to live with her son in the hopes that he will marry Esme and live happily ever after. Yeah, doesn't work that way because Khai is everything but willing.

Esme accepts the offer, hoping that finally she can better herself, that people wouldn't look down their noses when they looked at her.

"She didn’t need a rich man. She just needed someone who was hers."

Some readers may find Esme, the heroine of this story, manipulative - just a heads up! And maybe she is but I challenge everyone to walk in her shoes only for a week. Most of us, used to luxuries like a real bed and a shower every day would throw the towel after a few days. She is a fighter with a brave heart and a little sass. Sometimes courage left her for a while, when she had another setback in her life but she always got up, polished her crown and went on being the queen that she was.

Khai thinks his heart is made of stone. When his cousin dies he seems to deal well from his perspective. He doesn't grieve. He is oddly OK so he believes that he doesn't feel deeply. When Esme enters his life she teaches him the joy of life he has never felt before.

"In a split second, she redefined perfection for him. His standards aligned to her exact proportions and measurements. No one else would ever live up to her."

I felt so sad for Khai. He felt so deeply without realizing it. That conundrum, that it gave him so much grief that he thought he couldn't love at all, was unsolvable for this highly intelligent man. It takes his older brother, who is pushy but means well, to make him take a closer look at everything that happened in his past and with Esme. I loved Khai's innocence, he was pure and full of love without realizing it. Esme's sweetness, her light, her kind heart and strength was just what he needed.

"My heart works in a different way, but it’s yours."

There is one thing that didn't make much sense to me: Esme believes throughout the story that Khai is a middle class accountant when in fact he is really rich. For some reason it was never brought up or resolved in the end so when you close the book Emse must still believe that Khai is your average accountant. This was a bit of a dropped ball for me but ultimately didn't take away from my enjoyment.

The Bride Test was a wonderfully written. Helen Hoang worked her magic and created beautifully flawed characters who deserve their happy ever after. I'm looking forward to seeing what this author has up her sleeve next!

Readers also enjoyed

Helen Hoang is that shy person who never talks. Until she does. And the worst things fly out of her mouth. She read her first romance novel in eighth grade and has been addicted ever since. In 2016, she was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in line with what was previously known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Her journey inspired THE KISS QUOTIENT. She currently lives in San Diego, California withHelen Hoang is that shy person who never talks. Until she does. And the worst things fly out of her mouth. She read her first romance novel in eighth grade and has been addicted ever since. In 2016, she was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in line with what was previously known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Her journey inspired THE KISS QUOTIENT. She currently lives in San Diego, California with her husband, two kids, and pet fish....more